Chapter Seven

"What?" Harry's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't expect the headmaster to actually admit that something was wrong. Ignoring the snake, he continued. "What's wrong? Am I in trouble? Did the Dursleys find out that I've left the house; are they mad?" He asked in a rush.

Albus chuckled, his grave expression softening. The twinkle that had turned dull and lifeless in his eyes soon returned to their full liveliness. "No, my dear boy. But, you are in danger, Harry."

Harry raised his eyebrows, finding that since Slyther's complaints and ramblings had subsided, it had become uncomfortably quiet. "What kind of danger?" He questioned, starting to feel his heart beat a bit faster. What kind of danger was Albus talking about? He didn't want to be in any sort of danger…so how exactly could he prevent it? Would this Remus Lupin help try to prevent the danger from harming him in any way?

"Your mother and father had a secret keeper, Harry," Albus started, folding his hands and looking Harry in the eye. "It was James's best friend, Sirius Black."

"Okay," Harry said slowly, taking his eyes off Dumbledore to look for Slyther. Where was that snake?

"Sirius Black ended up betraying your parents, Harry," Dumbledore continued on, looking at Harry solemnly. "He betrayed them to Voldemort. He killed them."

Harry didn't say anything. Where did this come from? His parents died in a car accident, how could this 'Sirius Black' betray his parents to this 'Voldemort', and then Voldemort…what…murdered his parents? "I think you've got the wrong person," Harry said, starting to stand up. "My parents died in a car accident."

"The Dursleys have never told you how your parents really died?"

Harry never sat back down, but eyed Albus suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

"Sit back down, Harry," Albus said. Harry didn't automatically obey, but took his time.

"So…my mum and dad never were ever killed in a car accident?" Harry finally asked as he slowly sat back down. "Aunt Petunia told me a…lie?"

"I'm afraid so, Harry," Albus said. "Lily and James Potter never died in a car accident. They were betrayed by one of their friends, Harry, and killed by a monstrous man."

"So what happened to Sirius Black after that?" Harry asked. What Albus Dumbledore was telling him didn't seem real, but it was so intriguing…just like a fictional story…"Was he sent to prison for life?"

"In a way," Dumbledore said. "That's a good way of looking at it, Harry."

"There's more," Harry couldn't help but say. Just the way Albus acted, talked; he knew there was more. "There's more than that."

A faint smile played on the headmasters lips. "Ah, yes, there is. Harry—" Albus paused before continuing, "do you believe in magic, Harry?" Although, before Harry had a chance to answer, Albus raised his eyebrows as the door of his office opened and an impatient Snape stood in the doorway.

"Albus? We're waiting for you until we can start the meeting. Is Potter in trouble?" Snape demanded.

"No, Severus," Albus said calmly. "But if you'd be willing to wait a while more, I'll be with you after. I have some...explaining to do with Harry, here." Snape gave an impatient nod and shut the door, leaving it just Harry and the headmaster again.

Harry shrugged, acting as if nothing happened and returned to their previous conversation. "Maybe. Ooh, d'you mean when one of my teeth get loose and fall out, and then a new one grows in? That kind of magic?"

Albus chuckled. "You're getting the point. But, no, I mean magic. With wands, perhaps?" Harry paused, not exactly knowing how to respond. Did he believe in magic? He had never thought about it before, really.

"Maybe," Harry finally said. "Why?"

"What would you say," Albus said, clearing his voice, "if I told you that magic is real?"

"Maybe…" Harry bit his lip in thought. "Maybe, 'Why do you say that magic is real?'"

Albus smiled thinly. "Well, Harry, magic is real. Magic," he motioned to the room with his hands, and possibly out side of the room as well, "is all around you."

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. "What d'you mean?"

"You're a wizard, Harry," Albus finally said softly. "Just like your parents were, and just like I am."

Harry's eyes widened before he let out a yelp of laughter. "A—a wizard?" He cried through peals of laughter. "Did Snape tell you to do this before he went to the meeting?" Harry hadn't a clue why he was laughing so, he just didn't know how to react when Albus had said that.

"No, Harry," Albus replied.

The laughter soon died from Harry's lips. "Was he experimenting with some recipes for his cooking class when school starts back up and gave you a bite, except he did something to it to make you say all this silly stuff?"

"Cooking class?" Albus frowned. "Severus doesn't teach cooking classes."

"Oh," Harry said. "Does he teach Health?"

"No," Albus said, "he teaches potions."

Harry muffled more of his laughter. "Potions? I think you're taking this joke a bit too far. Only witches make potions in their cauldron, Mrs. Vye read us a book awhile back about witches and cauldrons and potions."

"This is no joke, Harry," Albus said solemnly, not a trace of laughter on his face. "I'm telling you the truth. Your father was a wizard, and your mother was a witch. Both attended this school."

Harry got back up from the chair, having enough of the conversation. Witches? Wizards? Potions? Magic? What did this man take him as—a fool? "Slyther?" He demanded, "Where are you?"

So now this human takes an interest in me, Slyther said sarcastically. What is that you want, human?

"Don't be mad," Harry said, looking around the floor for the snake. He was hidden so well, it was difficult for Slyther to be spotted. Where was he? "I'm sorry for throwing you off my head. It was an accident. I promise I won't do it again."

There was a long, thin silence. Harry couldn't describe how much he wanted to get out of that office, away from Hogwarts, away from everything Albus had just told him. No matter how cool Harry might think it was to be an actual wizard, it just seemed too impossible. Too unbelievable. He wanted to get Slyther and go back to the Dursleys, to his normal, usual life.

He's right, Slyther's voice finally echoed through Harry's mind. Harry was startled at the sudden voice, but listened intently anyway. I don't think he would lie, call me crazy. I know you think the same, human.

Well, he was still mad at Harry.

"I dunno—"

You're curious. Doesn't curiosity always get the better of you, human? Always did.

Harry sighed and turned back to Dumbledore, making his way back to the chair. He reluctantly sat down. "Continue," he muttered.

Albus smiled before folding his hands and continuing, as if nothing had happened. "Do you understand Harry, that you are a wizard?"

Harry hesitated before answering. "Yes…sir."

"Harry, did you ever wonder how and why you have that scar on your forehead?" Albus asked calmly.

"A bit," he admitted.

"Well," Albus said, "I'll tell you. Your mother sacrificed herself to save you, Harry. She placed you under a spell of love and protection, and when Voldemort used the killing curse to kill you, it rebounded off of your forehead and onto Voldemort himself. All that you were left with was the scar; a reminder."

"So my mother sacrificed herself to save me?" Harry said, frowning.

"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore replied.

"So…what does this have to do with Remus Lupin?" Harry asked. "And what does this have to do with him coming here?"

"Well, Harry," Albus started slowly.

Ah! I'm stuck! Slyther's voice screamed in Harry's mind. Help! I'm melting…I'm…ahhh…

"Slyther?" Harry said out loud, jumping up from the chair. "Where are you?"

I'm…ahhh…

"Slyther?" Harry repeated. His brow furrowed in concentration. Where was that snake? He looked down by his chair, and saw that Slyther was coiled around the leg of his chair. "What are you doing down there?" Harry demanded, bending down to help the snake out. "And how, exactly, are you stuck?"

I thought this was a good hiding place from you, Har—human. I was wrong, so sue me, can you at least be nice enough to untangle me from this concoction?

"It's called a chair," Harry said, trying to not hurt Slyther in any way with his hands as he tried to uncoil the snake. Finally, when Slyther was untangled from the leg of the chair, he set Slyther down on the floor. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Fine, peachy. Just be a good human and leave me alone—I still didn't forget the agony you put me through!

"We'll talk later," Harry promised. "But for now, don't go around any chair legs, okay?"

Be quiet, human. Mind your elder snakes!

Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head, sitting back down in the chair. He glanced at Albus, who was looking mildly amused. "Sorry," he apologized. "My snake was tangled up in the chair. Uh…you were saying?" Harry asked politely.

Albus smiled. "As you inquired, what does this have to do with Remus Lupin coming to Hogwarts and being a lookout to you? Well, Harry, as you know, Sirius Black betrayed your parents. He was life sentenced to Azkaban, and has just recently escaped."

"That's bad," Harry said, his mouth going dry. "He's going to come after me, isn't he? That's why Remus Lupin's going to be a lookout for me, because Sirius Black escaped from this 'Azkaban' and is going to come after me."

Albus's mouth was set in a thin line. "I'm afraid so, Harry. I'm going to try to take as many precautions as possible, because with Sirius Black, you never know." Albus forced a pleasant smile on his face, replacing the grim line. "Well, Severus will be back soon I'm sure. I can't believe how much of your time I've taken up; you better go back."

Harry nodded, the headmasters words echoing through his mind as he picked Slyther up. Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban…and was coming after him…

Don't worry, Slyther said. I'll look out for you, too, Harry.

Harry couldn't help but grin. It looked like Slyther wasn't mad at him anymore. "Thanks," he said.

Are you scared?

"Why?" Harry asked as he left Albus's office.

A madman has escaped from a prison. The old human back there said that he's presumably going to come after you. And kill you.

"I know that," Harry said with a frown. "You don't need to remind me."

Sorry, Slyther said. But if I were you…I would be scared.

"But I have you here," Harry said with a forced grin. "And Remus Lupin, who's going to be coming to Hogwarts soon. He was my dads friend. I found out that I'm a wizard, so, I'm happy."

As you should be. Don't worry about that human maniac, Harry. Think about good things, then you won't be as nervous and scared.

"Nervous? Scared?" Harry laughed. "I'm not. I doubt Sirius Black even knows I'm here!"

Good attitude, keep it up, Slyther advised. Harry grinned, and stiffened. He turned his head to the left, and saw nothing. When he turned his head to the right, he still didn't see anything. When he looked back, again, there was nothing.

So why did he feel like he was being watched?